Stink bugs do not hurt humans, but they can cause a lot of damage to crops and plants. Looking for more stink bug facts for kids? Find more information and learn about stink bug control at the official NPMA website. Stink Bugs Did you know? They will eat both the flowers and buds of the following plants, as well as any seeds or fruits. Common types of plants that attract stink bugs include grasses and weeds, corn and other grains, peach trees, soybeans, peanuts and pecan trees.
Ornamental plants that pique their interest include Eastern redbud, holly and mimosa, and they are often found on fruit trees including peach, apple and pear. If you garden, you are likely to see them on sunflowers, berries, peppers and tomatoes. They may also snack on your beans, eggplants or okra. Stink bugs follow crop seasons, so they will start out on host plants that are grasses and weeds, move to fruit trees and ornamental plants and ultimately end up in your garden.
Signs that stink bugs have nibbled on your plants will include pinprick holes that may have a cloudy area below them; shriveled or deformed seeds or fruits; and dark, bitter-tasting spots inside nuts such as pecans.
Once they send out the invitation for other stink bugs to join them, you could ultimately have hundreds of stink bugs hibernating in your home through winter. When the cold weather sets in, stink bugs enter a hibernation state called diapause.
During this time, they do not reproduce, nor do they feed. They are actually incapable of reproducing until the spring brings warmer weather. You may have noticed that some years stink bugs are all over your home, as well as the news, while other years not so much. The same goes for various locations around the country. While your home may have thousands of stink bugs, homes a few states away may experience a lot fewer. The climate during any given year can affect the number of stink bugs that survive and reproduce, causing a slight reduction the following year.
Have you been fighting an invasion of these pests this year? We would love to see your pictures! Visit our Facebook page to share them, or ask us any additional questions you may have! Scientists think the bugs use the odor as a defense against predators. There are hundreds of species of stink bugs in the United States. In the adult stage, they may be green or brown. Some are brightly colored and some have patterns on their backs.
Many large adult stink bugs reach almost 2 cm in length. In the immature, or nymph stage, the color varies from black to white. Some nymphs have white spots, which disappear as they mature. Some nymphs change color several times as they grow. Most stink bugs are plant feeders.
The first generation in the spring often feed on weeds or grasses. As they develop into adults, they often migrate into fields, orchards and residential landscapes.
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